What is the Smartphone App threshold?

[wormburner67]

Given that around the world android and iOS represent the majority of the smartphones around to this point (about 90% I believe) I have a query!

Much of today's talk is about the iOS vs Android talk and the amount of apps available to both platforms.

My question is.....I've had my smartie for a year now and to be honest I've added about 120 apps and removed most of them because simply, they are pointless for my lifestyle!

So I pose the question...are they all needed, or will sense control over marketing??

 

[dav3]

Given that around the world android and iOS represent the majority of the smartphones around to this point (about 90% I believe) I have a query!

Much of today's talk is about the iOS vs Android talk and the amount of apps available to both platforms.

My question is.....I've had my smartie for a year now and to be honest I've added about 120 apps and removed most of them because simply, they are pointless for my lifestyle!

So I pose the question...are they all needed, or will sense control over marketing??

Short answer...... no. But the law of statistics says that the more apps that are out there, the greater chance there is that there's actually something good hidden amongst the fart soundboards

 

[Caesar]

So I pose the question...are they all needed, or will sense control over marketing??

Of course they're not all needed, in the strictest sense of the word. But the more apps that are available, the more likely it is that people can find apps that are specifically suited to your lifestyle. As a BlackBerry user, most of the really popular apps are on my platform but it's frustrating that there isn't that breadth of choice you see with Android and iOS. Occasionally I see a really useful app for another platform that I wish I could get on BB, but it's not available because it only serves a small niche so nobody bothers porting it across.

The other piece of the puzzle you're missing is that app creation isn't purely driven by user demand. For a lot of people, designing apps is a hobby and they may only be interested in creating a product that suits their own needs.

It's also a very popular gateway for aspiring software designers. Creating apps is relatively cheap and easy, and the App Store / Android Marketplace immediately puts your work in front of tens of millions of people. If something you create becomes successful it is a great way of promoting yourself and showcasing your skills/creativity to future customers or employers.

 

[SugarShane]

Short answer...... no. But the law of statistics says that the more apps that are out there, the greater chance there is that there's actually something good hidden amongst the fart soundboards

I hope you're not implying that fart boards and "good" apps are mutually exclusive?

 

[dav3]

I hope you're not implying that fart boards and "good" apps are mutually exclusive?

Fart boards are pointless on a phone, you need bass so you can feel the rumble

 

[Bristol]

Fart boards are pointless on a phone, you need bass so you can feel the rumble

Lol'd very hard at this

 

[Pie eyed]

Of course they're not all needed, in the strictest sense of the word. But the more apps that are available, the more likely it is that people can find apps that are specifically suited to your lifestyle. As a BlackBerry user, most of the really popular apps are on my platform but it's frustrating that there isn't that breadth of choice you see with Android and iOS. Occasionally I see a really useful app for another platform that I wish I could get on BB, but it's not available because it only serves a small niche so nobody bothers porting it across.

The other piece of the puzzle you're missing is that app creation isn't purely driven by user demand. For a lot of people, designing apps is a hobby and they may only be interested in creating a product that suits their own needs.

It's also a very popular gateway for aspiring software designers. Creating apps is relatively cheap and easy, and the App Store / Android Marketplace immediately puts your work in front of tens of millions of people. If something you create becomes successful it is a great way of promoting yourself and showcasing your skills/creativity to future customers or employers.

Eminently sensible post, as usual.
I agree, but in saying that I have only found a handful of apps I would ever actually use. I'm of a certain age group though, who still predominantly use a phone as a ....well......phone.
My daughter has hundreds of the things.